Help ons het leven van kinderen met autisme te verbeteren.

Music, sound and rhythm form a language that can help children with autism to communicate, to express and to assimilate their feelings. Music therapy is often found to be a way of breaking through the rigidity in the attitude and behaviour of children with autism and to encourage them to come out of their isolation. Music is the resource that forms the basis for the communication between the child and the music therapist. Together, they do all sorts of activities with sound and music. The music therapist has a variety of resources available for that, such as musical instruments. Music is, among others, used to stimulate the child, to awaken curiosity or to motivate them, but also to create a safe atmosphere in which the child can freely express him/herself.

Since the year 2000, Papageno has provided music therapy to children (upwards of three years) and young people who are diagnosed with 'autism spectrum disorder’ and associated disabilities, which preferably takes place in their own homes. For Papageno’s music therapy no distinction is made between, for example, classic autism, Asperger’s syndrome or PDD-NOS.

Qualified music therapists, attached to Papageno, work throughout the Netherlands. In his or her own familiar environment, the child receives individual music therapy which is fully geared to him or her, because, after all, every child is unique. The therapist will hold regular meetings with the parents or companions. Initially, that is so that the therapy can be geared to the child and, later on, so that the actual therapy can be evaluated and adjusted.

Methodology

Once a week, at a specific time, the therapist will drive to the door with a car full of musical instruments. In consultation with the therapist, a suitable room is chosen in which the therapy can take place. Prior to the therapy, an intake meeting takes place, during which the therapist can provide an explanation about the basic premises and, in consultation, will determine the goals of the therapy.

Register? email@stichtingpapageno.nl or +3135 - 5388091

"Music therapy is a methodical form of assistance, where musical resources are used within a therapeutic relationship to effect change, development, stabilisation or acceptance within an emotional, behavioural-based, cognitive, social or physical field." From: professional profile of the music therapist, the Netherlands Association for Music Therapy, Utrecht 2009.

In the report by the Health Council of the Netherlands 'Autism spectrum disorder: a lifetime of difference’ dating from June 2009, one of the conclusions was that of all the interventions that are available to date, behavioural interventions – such as music therapy – have been proven to be the most effective. In addition, based on research by the ITS of the St. Radboud University, the Health Care Insurance Board judges that music therapy is an effective intervention.

Every child is unique and the therapist will gear the individual music therapy to the child. The therapist will hold regular meetings with the parents, companions or, sometimes, with teachers. Initially, this is in order to gear the therapy to the child, but later to evaluate and adjust the progress of the therapy.

Music is the resource that forms the basis for the communication between the child and the music therapist. Together, they do all sorts of activities with sound and music. The music therapist has a variety of resources available for that, such as musical instruments. Music is, among others, used to stimulate the child, to awaken curiosity or to motivate them, but also to create a safe atmosphere in which the child can freely express him/herself.